Something about her scent is wrong.

I stand in the doorway of our healing chambers, watching as Beta Marcus and his patrol carry in the unconscious woman they’ve pulled from the river after my brothers and I told them. Her dark red hair is matted with blood, two arrows still protruding from her shoulder and side. But it is her scent that holds my attention—or rather, the lack of it. The sensation reminds me of trying to catch starlight in cupped hands—it’s there, but it refuses to be contained.

Even unconscious and wounded, an Alpha’s power bleeds through their scent like whiskey through water. This woman’s scent is there and not there, like trying to catch smoke with bare hands. More concerning is how my wolf reacts to her presence—alert, intrigued, almost hungry. My beast, usually as controlled as winter frost, paces beneath my skin with an urgency I haven’t felt since my brothers and I claimed our titles.

Before I can sort out the strange sensation, Lucas and Kian’s questions enter my mind, but I pushed them aside for now. I need to focus on the situation at hand. As triplets, we’re used to sensing each other’s thoughts and emotions. The strength of our mental connection is rare in our world even between mates, and that much rarer between family members and wolves of the same sex.

“Report,” I command, keeping my voice level despite my wolf’s unsettled state.

Beta Marcus straightens. “Thanks to your intel, we’ve found her half-drowned in the eastern bend. Trail of blood led back to Starfang territory.” He hesitates. “There’s something else, Alpha. When we pulled her out, for just a moment, there was a surge of power. Silver power.”

My eyes narrow. The world brings back memories of ancient texts I’d studied in our pack’s library—tales of silver wolves who could bend moonlight to their will and speak to the spirits of our ancestors. Silver wolves are rare enough to be nearly mythical. The last recorded one died over two centuries ago. Yet the way my wolf prowls beneath my skin suggests Marcus isn’t imagining things.

“Get the healer,” I order. “And find my brothers.”

The Beta hurries out as our head healer, Sarah, rushes in. She immediately begins cutting away the woman’s sodden clothes, revealing more bruises and what looks like chain marks on her wrists. A prisoner then. Interesting. Even as we extract the arrows, she doesn’t stir, pale lips faintly blue. We don’t have much time.

Sarah hums as she probes the Alpha’s shoulder, a melody so haunting and ancient it brings an echo of pain to even my memory. I watch in silence as the woman’s skin knits together, leaving no trace of the wound. Only then does Sarah breathe a sigh of relief.

Kian arrives first, his massive frame filling the doorway. Where I inherited our father’s leading nature and Lucas his sense of diplomacy, Kian got his raw presence. My warrior brother always moves fastest when there is potential for action. He takes one look at our unexpected guest and growls low in his throat.

“You feel it too?” I ask quietly.

He nods. “She smells of power and poison. Not unlike something you would find at home.”

“What else?” I press.

He nods, muscles tense. “Wolf’s going crazy. Like she’s...” He trails off, unable to find the words.

“Important,” Lucas finishes, slipping into the room with his usual silence as if materializing from the shadows. Where Kian is brute force and I’m calculated control, Lucas is all subtle grace and sharp edges. Our youngest brother by seven minutes studies the woman with unusual intensity, all traces of his typical playful demeanor gone. “She’s important to us. To our wolves.”

“Clearly, Brother,” Kian scoffs. “No one has kept our wolves this amused in years.”

“How can you jest?” Lucas shoots back.

“Easy,” I interrupt, holding my palms up. Lucas and Kian glare at each other, muscles tensed for a fight. Their wolves have been dying to show superiority, but most of the time, they managed to keep them in control. Our guest’s presence and her effect on our wolves isn’t helping the matters.

I don’t disagree with Lucas. The woman feels important. All three of our wolves are fixated on this stranger, and that hasn’t happened since... well, ever.

Sarah works efficiently, removing the arrows and cleaning the wounds. “The injuries aren’t fatal,” she reports. “But there’s something else in her system. Some kind of poison, I think. It’s interfering with her healing.”

“Wolfsbane?” Kian suggests, but Sarah shakes her head.

“Different. Never seen anything like it. It’s almost like it’s—” She breaks off as the woman stirs, her eyelids fluttering.

I move closer, studying her face. Even pale and drawn, there is strength in her features. The kind of strength that comes from command, from making hard decisions. This is no ordinary wolf.

Her eyes open slowly, revealing hazel irises that immediately focus on me with shocking clarity for someone who’s nearly drowned. There is no fear in that gaze, only calculation. Definitely an Alpha then, regardless of the strangeness of her scent.

“Who are you?” I demand.

My brothers step close, surrounding her. One corner of her mouth lifts slightly as she glances at the three of us. She doesn’t answer right away, making me grit my teeth in frustration. Instead, she inspects each of our faces, seeming to catalog our features.

She swallows, wincing slightly. When she speaks, her voice is hoarse but steady. “No one of consequence.”

Lucas chuckles. “A lie. Interesting choice for your first words to us.”

Her eyes flick to him, then Kian, then back to me. I see the moment she registers we are triplets—the slight widening of her eyes, the quick intake of breath. Recognition flickers across her face before she masks it.

“The Alpha Kings,” she murmurs. “I’ve heard stories.”

“I’m sure you have,” Lucas says, the edges of his mouth pulling up slightly. The words come out as a friendly taunt, clearly hoping to draw a reaction. She’s either too smart or too tired to raise to his bait.

“If you’ve heard of us, then you know lying is unwise.” I let a hint of power color my voice. “Let’s try again. Who are you?”

She is quiet for a long moment, clearly weighing her options. Finally, she says, “My name is Lara. Lara Black.”

The name hits like a physical blow. All three of us stiffen. The female Alpha of the Starfang Pack. The one who’s been making waves across the territories with her progressive policies. The one who disappeared five days ago after her Second seized power.

“Impossible,” Kian growls. “Lara Black is dead. Jackson Cooper executed her for treason.”

A bitter smile curves her lips. “Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.”

“Prove it,” I challenge. “Where’s your wolf? Every report says you’re one of the strongest Alphas in seven territories. Yet I sense nothing from you.”

Her mouth tightens and pain flashes across her face before she can hide it. “Gone,” she whispers. “They took her from me.”

Lucas curses softly. The wolfless punishment is reserved for the worst crimes—murder, treason, oath-breaking. To use it on an Alpha...

“How?” I demand.

“Does it matter?” Her voice hardens. “I’m no threat to you now. Just let me rest and I’ll be gone by morning.”

I study her for a long moment. There is strength in the way she says the words, almost a challenge. She wants to walk away, I realize. She’s testing us to see what we would do. Even wounded, poisoned, and wolfless, she maintains her dignity. The wolf in me wants to fight, to force her into compliance. More importantly, she’s clearly hiding something. My wolf practically vibrates with the need to uncover her secrets.

“You’re not going anywhere,” I inform her. “Not until we get some answers.”

She tenses, though her face remains carefully neutral. “I’m not your prisoner.”

“No?” I smile without warmth. “Then you’re our guest. And guests don’t leave until they’ve properly thanked their hosts.”

Her eyes narrow slightly. Message received—she knows exactly what kind of “guest” she is.

“The Pack Laws are clear,” I continue. “Any wolf found in our territory without permission is subject to our authority. Even former Alphas.”

“I’m still Alpha,” she snaps, then immediately presses her lips together like she wishes she could take the words back.

Interesting. Despite everything they’ve done to her, she still claims her title. Still has that fire. My wolf approves, even as my tactical mind notes it as potentially dangerous.

“We’ll see,” I reply mildly. “For now, rest. Heal. We’ll continue this discussion when you’re stronger.”

I gesture to my brothers and we leave the healing chambers, my mind already racing with possibilities. A female Alpha with dormant power, who somehow survived both the wolfless punishment and an execution attempt, who makes all three of our wolves react so strongly... She is either our greatest potential asset or our deadliest future threat.

Either way, Lara Black isn’t leaving our territory until I uncover every one of her secrets.

And I have a feeling those secrets will change everything.